ATLANTIC Canada is made up of four unique provinces, each with their own charm and offers tourists a host of holiday potentials away from the mainstream

As the sound of the bagpipes and drums filled the air and I inspected rows of Canadian guards in dashing scarlet, I felt like the Queen at Trooping the Colour.

But my regal airs and graces were brought to a halt when the guards loaded up their rifles for the salute – and I exploded into laughter. I think Her Majesty’s job is safe for now.

This daily drill – a re-enactment in New Brunswick’s Historic Garrison District of Fredericton – is a magnet for tourists and certainly felt like the real thing. But as well as being the birthplace of the Canadian Army, Fredericton town is also rich in culture and riverside beauty.

My husband, Malcolm, and I stopped by the Old Government House and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, a gift to the town by former Express Newspapers owner Lord Beaverbrook housing paintings by the old masters.

Then it was time to refuel at the Lunar Rogue Pub where there’s a menu of nigh on 400 whiskies – not a great day to be designated driver.

Jan takes on the big guns in Nova Scotia [JAN BRIERLY]

Travelling from town to town by public transport is doable in Atlantic Canada, but by hiring a car, we covered a lot of ground on our 10-day trip. Next stop was Saint John on New Brunswick’s south coast and the famous Bay of Fundy.

Some 200 billion tonnes of seawater gush into the bay each day, with the world’s tallest tides rising up to four-storeys high.

It is actually possible to sail a boat over Hopewell Rocks, the spot where we walked at low tide under the shadow of rocks that have eroded into “flowerpot” shapes.

Over at neighbouring province Nova Scotia, we stopped off at the capital Halifax. It was the closest port to the 1912 Titanic disaster so bodies and wreckage were brought here.

Its Maritime Museum holds the world’s largest collection of wooden artifacts from the disaster, including an almost perfectly preserved deckchair. High on my must-do list for Nova Scotia was a trip to Lunenburg, formerly a British colonial settlement and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It’s a pretty spot that’s full of character and after a stroll along the tree-lined streets of the Old Town, past colourful heritage houses, we settled at the picturesque waterfront to soak up the views.

With such a strong seafaring link, it’s no surprise that the seafood is superb in the Maritime provinces. The haul here is endless but Prince Edward Island is best for succulent mussels and unforgettable dining. Head east for dinner at the Inn at Bay Fortune and book the “chef’s table”.

From our “room in the kitchen” we watched cooks busy at work on our seven-course meal. There were no Gordon Ramsay-style histrionics but Domenic Serio and his team cooked up a storm without a cross word.

We tucked into oysters, charcuterie, island cheeses, smoked salmon, scallops and pork, each course paired with wine the chef had specially chosen. It was a fabulous feast and we can’t wait to go back for more.

GETTING THERE

Seven days in Atlantic Canada with Canadian Affair costs from £665pp from May 2014. It includes return flights from Gatwick to Halifax, car hire and two-night stays at the Atlantica Hotel & Marina, Nova Scotia; the Ramada, New Brunswick; and Best Western, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Call 020 7616 9933 or visit canadianaffair.com also see atlanticcanadaholiday.co.uk.